By Yunus S Saliu
Holidaymakers especially repeater tourists who have been visiting the destination have discussed their concerns over the upcoming tourism season in the destination.
Some of the tourists or holidaymakers worried about the Ministry of Defence new regulatory measures for all flights destined to fly to destination Gambia.
Earlier this month the Ministry of Defence has issued new regulatory measures for ‘all flights destined to The Gambia’ dated 4th August and dispatched to relevant stakeholders, in part of their efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the country, states six measures to follow by ‘all flight operators in The Gambia especially SN Brussels.’
Among the conditions for the approval of landing includes ‘any passenger destined for The Gambia must be in possession of certificate indicating that he/she took a Covid-19 test within 72 hours prior to boarding and the result is negative,’ ‘the passenger manifests must be sent to Banjul before takeoff,’ ‘upon arrival all disembarking passengers shall be subjected to immediate testing and the passengers shall pay for the cost of testing,’ ‘all those who test positive shall be quarantined and those who test negative shall be discharged and monitored if necessary.’
Expressing concerns over the regulatory measures according to the online Gambia Tourism Forum, Jo Brooks wants more clarification over this measures While Lorraine Armitage asked if “the document stating someone to have test and fit to fly certificate before allowed entering Gambia?”
But Shell Sharon concern is about cost and wants the concerned authorities to make it cheaper. Narrating her former experience in the destination, as she said “I’ve just been looking at the cost for test and certificate, this is the place I had my yellow fever vaccine our doctors recommended this place to me it’s expensive the test and certificate. I think they should make it cheaper flight could be cancelled at short notice not just Gambia but any place you need a certificate and test.”
She added that “I certainly don’t want to holiday in quarantine,” while Paula Jenkins described it as “awful situation.”
However, Lorraine Armitage advised the intended tourists to look after themselves by using face “masks, anti-bacteria, hand washing etc, we’ll be fine,” she assured.
Despite the regulatory measures, Cathy Kirby worry is about the conditions of the hospitals in the destinations. She said she has been inside the general hospitals but described it to be “horrendous.” But in spite of her description of the general hospital in the country, Lorraine Armitage confessed that one of the private hospitals in the country “Afrimed saved my husband’s life.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, in a dispatched letter to partners has assured them of the Ministry’s support in reaching the goals for the upcoming tourism winter season to begin soon.
Due to challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry disclosed that government of “The Gambia has instituted stringent protocols and measures that must be adhered to by the entire leisure and hospitality industry in general. And The Gambia, depending on advice from the Ministry of Health is ready to open and operate the forthcoming season as a very safe destination for the clients.”